CERTIFICATION TRAINING, PART TWO TRAINING
What is Workplace-Specific Hazard Training?
Workplace-Specific Hazard Training (also known as Hazard-Specific training
and as Part Two training) is the second part of Certification training that is
required under the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
Workplace-Specific Hazard training prepares Certified members of the Joint
Health and Safety Committee to identify and assess workplace hazards and
describe how they may cause injuries and illness. Certified members learn about
relevant legislation, standards and guidelines for hazards in their workplace.
In addition, they learn how to control specific hazards and how to prepare an
action plan to identify, assess and control hazards.
When must Workplace-Specific training be completed?
By December 31, 2001, a workplace hazard assessment of your workplace must be
completed. And, Certified members of your Joint Health and Safety Committee must
have completed their training on these hazards by that date.
Who can provide Workplace-Specific Hazard training?
It is OPSEU’s policy that Certification training must be provided by the
Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC). There are OPSEU members throughout
the province who are qualified by the Centre to provide Certification training.
Local unions are advised that an OPSEU member who has received certification
training from any agency other than the Workers Centre cannot sit on a joint
committee representing the union as a certified member.
OPSEU has a central agreement with Management Board Secretariat for the OPS
stating that Certification training for OPSEU members will be provided by OPSEU
instructors, through the WHSC. OPSEU has a similar agreement with the Colleges
of Applied Arts and Technology. Thus, all locals in the OPS and CAAT (A&S)
must ensure that committee members are trained by OPSEU in-house instructors
utilizing the Workers Centre materials in accord with these agreements. In
locals where the union and management agree, training also may be delivered by
WHSC instructors who are not OPSEU members.
All local unions in other sectors will have to either negotiate similar
agreements or insist that our OPSEU policy regarding certification training is
followed. Bear in mind that the employer is obligated to have a certified
member. The union has the right to select in accord with its governing policies.
The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) allows anyone to deliver
Workplace-Specific training as long as the training meets learning objectives
established by WSIB in their "Certification Training Program
Standards."
Who decides what Workplace-Specific Hazard training is required in each
workplace?
The WSIB’s "Certification Training Program Program Standards"
make the employer responsible for performing the workplace hazard assessment to
identify significant hazards.
It is OPSEU’s advice that the hazard assessment should be done by the JHSC
in the course of a workplace inspection rather than leave it to the employer to
do without worker input. The assessment will be more complete and accurate if
there is worker input from the beginning.
As well as doing a workplace inspection, consult other sources of information
during the assessment such as:
- chemical inventories and MSDSs
- WSIB reports
- workplace accident, injury and illness records
- near-miss reports
- JHSC minutes, recommendations and inspection reports
- sampling or test data
- Ministry of Labour orders/recommendations
- individuals in the workplace with special knowledge about the hazards
Whether the assessment is done by the employer alone, or with worker input,
it must be brought to the JHSC for review and the committee must have the
opportunity to make recommendations on training needs.
How do I receive final Certification?
"For a certified member to receive Final Certification, the employer
must inform the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of the training needs
identified by the hazard assessment, along with confirmation that the training
has been completed. The employer will also identify: when the training occurred;
name of the training organization; name of the training program; and an
indication if the training was identified as equivalent. Certified members will
sign the form to verify that they are aware that notification is being sent to
WSIB." -- from WSIB "Guidelines for workplace-specific hazard
training of certified members" (Dec. 2000)
Where can I get more information?
- Contact OPSEU’s Health & Safety Unit at Head Office
- Go to the WSIB website at www.wsib.on.ca
and click on Prevention. In particular, look for the "Guidelines for
workplace-specific hazard training of certified members" in the
section, "Training and Incentive programs."
- Look at the Workers Health & Safety Centre website at www.whsc.on.ca
and click on the "Certification Training" button. Also go to the
"In the Regions" section to see when training is being offered in
your area.
Health and Safety Index
